Overhead transit apparatus



O. BARTLETT AND H. FRYER.

OVERHEAD TRANSIT APPARATUS.

3 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1919.

1 ,347,4 82, Patented July 20, 1920.

2 sHE';TssHEET 1.

ll If U. BARTLETT AND H. FRYER.

OVERHEAD TRANSIT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24. 1919.

Patented July 20, 1920.,

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

OVERHEAD TRANSIT APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20,1920.

Application filed September 24, 1919. Serial No. 325,892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OMAR BARTLETT and HARRY FRYER, citizens of the United States, residing at Lewiston, in the county of Nez Perce and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overhead Transit Apparatus, of

which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a suspended railway construction, and more particularly to the class of overhead transit apparatus.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character wherein a carrier is. suspended from an overhead track construction and is adapted to'travel thereon, the power for operating the carrier being of any suitable source so that the said carrier can be advanced for transportation from one point to another, the overhead track construction and the suspension of the carrier being of novel form so as to avoid any possibilityof accidents and to prevent the said carrler from becoming dlsengagedor disconnected from the overhead track construction in the transit thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character wherein the power for imparting motion to' from one point to another.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus ofthis character wherein the construction thereof and the mounting of the same in the overhead track eliminates the use of an underslun'g wheeled truck for supporting the carrier as is usual in surface railway construction.

7 A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatusof this character which is comparatively simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in its operation, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, and pointed out in the claims hereunto 5ppended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an overhead track construction and a suspended carrier constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation showing the carrier in position and adjunct parts.

.Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through one of the traction rollers of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a propelling motor, the same being one form of power source in the use of the apparatus.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail A designates generally an overhead track 'construction and B the movable carrier of the apparatus. This track construction A comprises posts 10 which are anchored within the ground or roadbed at the desired spaced relation to each other to extend vertically for accommodating the passage of the carrier B therebetween, t being understood, of course, that the required number of posts are employed in the overhead track construction according to the variable extent thereof and mounted upon the upper ends of each pair of posts 10 is a cross brace 11, which may be of any desirable construction, in this instance in the form of a beam having the sleeve ends 12 which embrace the posts 11 immediately below the caps 13 on the upper ends thereof, the brace 11 bein designed to hold the posts against spreading relative to each other and to give any approved type, in this instance in the the form of a passenger coach, and disposed crosswise of the top 19ithereof spacedfrom opposite ends are cross SlllS or bolsters 20 which are supported elevatedover said top 19 through the medium of truss rods -2'1 which are boltedor'otherwise fastened to the sills or bolsters 20 and also to the top 19 of the body 18. Arranged'between the sills or bolsters 20 and connected thereto are longitudinal truss rods 22 which together with the rods 21 rigidly amid the said sills or bolsters 20, while the rods 21 suspend the body '18 therefrom. Mounted upon each of the sills or bolsters 20 is -a substantially "Ff-shaped bracket 23,.the same being bolted or otherwise secured to said sill or bolster and has its upper arms 2i thereof disposed in upwardly divergent relation .to each other and formed with horizontal and angularly disposed bearings 25 and '26 respectively while between these arms 2% is across connecting web 27 formed with a center vertical bearing 28 and likewise the bracket 23 is formed with a central vertical bearing 29 in alinement withthe said bear I of internal combustion construction.

- in downwardly convergent relation to each 28 ,these bearings-28 and 29 havejournaled therein a driven shaft 30 connected throughthemedium of meshing gears 31 and 32 respectively with the power shaft 33 .of a drlving motor of any approved construction, The motor is located wlthin a suitable boring or housing 3st wit-hin the bracket 23 above the body '18 of the carrier.

It is, of course, to be understood that the power motor may be'of the electric type or It is contemplated to employ an aerial motor 35 of any ordinary well known construction having the usual bladed .pr0peller36 'yet any other type ofmotor can be used. 7 I Journaled 1n the horizontal bear ngs 25 1s" a transverse countershaft37 which has affixed-to its oppositeends outside of the-arms 24: of the bracket 23 pinions 38 while fixedly engaged in 1 the angularly disposedbearings 26 arestub axles 39 having thereon traction rollers 10, the. same being formed with pinions 41 meshing. with the pinions 38 and these rollers are disposed other and have peripheral grooves 42 forreceiv-ing the track rails 17. The traction rollers 40 are adapted to travel upon the --tive mobile of the carrier upon the overtrack rails .17 when the carrier is in motion for transit --from one point to another. I

Securedto the driven shaft 30 is a bev-- eled gear i3 which meshes with a pinioneti afiixed to the counter shaft 37 sov that motion from the power shaft 33 of the motor willbe transmitted to the counter shaft 37 whence the motion will -be transmitted therefrom to the traction wheels 40 for the posihead track construction.

interior'of' the carrier 18 for thes'tarting" and stopping of the motor and also for varying the speedofthe same.

The arrangements of the brackets 23 above thecarrier l8 and centrally of the same and also with respect to the overhead track construction enables the said Car ier to be moved upon the tra'clrconstruction without rocking'motion and with smoothness and evenness over the track'railslT as. the weight of the carrier 18 sustains the same when susy-pendedbetween theposts in a balanced position and by reason drum angular disposi tion of the traction rollers there is "no possibility of the same leavingthe track ra1ls 17 when; the carrier ism motion, the We ghtofthe carrier being equalized be tween the track rails 17 of the overhead @orco ricaioi a trere-isno os iii-- tral nstl n nll sl ityiof the traction wheels 210 jumping bll'd rail 17 duringthe'travel of the carrler. V

The oarticular manner of suspension of the carrier 18 beneath the overhead track construction assures against excessive ars and vibrations incident to the tr'avel of said carrier asthe truss rods 21 and 22 will absorb shocks and ars during the momentum of the carrier in "its suspended relationto the overhead trackconstruction.

Arranged between the "brackets and connected thereto are crossed braces e6 whlch serve to sustaln the brackets 1n vertical rela'tionto each other and to prevent anyrocking or .play thereof upon the cross sills or bolsters 20 above. the top of "the carrier 18. i

' From the g fig t'is t houghtthat the construction andmanner of operation of the apparatus w ll be ,"clearly understood and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted. a

- What is claimed is: v f

1. An apparatusofthe character described,

comprising spaced verticalaiprights, track hangerssecured to said uprights and having upturned rail supporting ends, track. rails carried bysaid-end's, a'carrier, brackets on the carrier and having upwardly divergent 7 portions, horizontal. andangulaily disposed bearings 'on'sa'id upwardly. divergent portions, a counter shaftjournaled inthehorizontalrbearings, axles carried inthe an .gularlyy disposedxfbearlngs, peripherally -grooved traction rollers on 'said'axles and 'enga'gmg said track zralls, gear connections between said shaft and said rollers, and motor driven connect ons cooperating with 2. An apparatus of thecharacterdescribed,

comprising spaced vertical uprights, track hangers secured to said uprights and having upturned rail supporting ends, track rails carried by said ends, a carrier, brackets on the carrier and having upwardly divergent portions, horizontal and angularly disposed bearings on said upwardly divergent portions, a counter shaft j ournaled in the hori- Zontal bearings, stub axles carried in the angularly disposed bearings, peripherally grooved traction rollers on said axles and engaging said track rails, gear c nnections between said shaft and said rollers, motor driven connections cooperating with said shaft, cross sills fixed to said brackets, and truss rods connecting the carrier with said cross sills for the suspension of the carrier beneath the latter.

An apparatus of the character described, comprising spaced vertical uprights, track hangers secured to said uprights and having upturned rail supporting ends, track rails carried by said ends, a carrier, brackets on the carrier and having upwardly divergent portions, horizontal and angularly disposed hearings on said upwardly divergent portions, a counter shaft journaled in the horizontal bearings, stub axles carried in the angularly disposed bearings, peripherally grooved traction rollers on said axles and engaging said track rails, gear connections between said shaft and said rollers, motor driven connections cooperating with said shaft, cross sills fixed to said brackets, truss rods connecting the carrier with said cross sills for the suspension of the carrier beneath the latter, and means for bracing the uprights.

l. An apparatus of the character described, comprising spaced vertical uprights, track hangers secured to said uprights and having upturned rail supporting ends, track rails carried by said ends, a carrier, brackets on the carrier and having upwardly divergent portions, horizontal and angularly disposed bearings on said upwardly divergent portions, a counter shaft journaled in the hori- Zontal bearings, stub axles carried in the angularly disposed bearings, peripherally grooved traction rollers on said axles and engaging said track rails, gear connections between said shaft and said rollers, motor driven connections cooperating with said shaft, cross sills fixed to said brackets, truss rods connecting the carrier with said cross sills for the suspension of the carrier beneath the latter, means for bracing the uprights, and a housing mounted in each bracket for accommodating a motor.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures hereto.

OMAR BARTLETT. HARRY FRYER. 

